Dark Ace held the book in his hand. He rubbed a thumb over the timeworn cover.

It was late. The Storm Hawks were asleep. But Dark Ace couldn't get his mind to rest.

Why?

Such a simple question. He'd heard it hundreds of times. He'd never lost any sleep over the answer in all the years that he fought for Cyclonia.

So why was he troubled now?

His past was behind him. No reason to care.

His fingers poised over the book, as though to open it to the first page.

Convictions be damned.

Dark Ace began to read.

OOO

Author's Note: Total word count: 100